Pick Axe Pete!
Platform: Magnavox Odyssey2
Region: USA
Media: Cartridge
Controller: Odyssey? Joystick
Genre: Platformer
Gametype: Undefined
Release Year: 1982
Developer: Magnavox
Publisher: Magnavox
Players: 1 or 2 Alternating
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Thrills, chills and spills as Pick Axe Pete strikes it rich in the Misty Mountain Mine!

(1 or more players) First press RESET

Next press keys 0 to 9

Your screen shows a network of tunnels and shafts. It's one of the ten mysterious gold mines where Pickaxe Pete struck it rich, a different mine for each numerical key you have pressed.

The actual secret of those Misty Mountain mines lies hidden behind three coloured doors: one at the top level, one at the very bottom and the third in the centre. Huge boulders come bursting from those doors at irregular intervals, bouncing through the narrow tunnels. When two boulders collide, one of three things may happen:

1. They explode and disappear into thin air.

2. They explode, revealing a pickaxe which gently drops down to the lowest level where it disappears after a while.

3. They explode after which a golden key twirls upwards to the top level where it will vanish after a short while.

You find Pickaxe Pete in the centre of your screen. You can move him with the joystick of the left handset. When Pete steps into an opening in the tunnel floor, he will drop down to the next level. It will not hurt him.

He can move up to the next level only by using one of the ladders that mysteriously appear from time to time in different places. When halfway up a ladder, you can make him jump the rest of the way. Just move the joystick into the direction you want him to jump and press the action button. This is a good idea for instance when the ladder directly leads to one of the magic doors. If he does go in without having a key, he gets caught in the revolving door, possibly exposing himself to a boulder coming from that door and then the game is over!

Making Your Fortune:

Pickaxe Pete is vigorously swinging his pickaxe, while those boulders come bouncing down the narrow tunnels. Every time he smashes one, he strikes gold, adding 3 points to your score.

There's one problem however! He is using his pickaxe so energetically that it soon wears down.

When it does, you will hear a tinkling, warning sound. Without his pickaxe, Pete is defenseless against the boulders. He can collect a new pickaxe when catching one as it floats down after a boulder collision (see above) or pick it up at the bottom level of the mine. When he does succeed in getting a new pickaxe, he can continue his work and collect a bonus of 5 points as well.

Until he has, there's only one thing he can do: try and evade the boulders by either jumping over them or ducking under them. Every time he succeeds, he again collects one point. To make Pete jump or dive, move the joystick in the desired direction and then press the action button.

Note: If you want Pete to pass a door while not having a key, you can make him jump over the door but watch out for those boulders!

The Magic Doors:

There's an interesting alternative! When he manages to get hold of one of those golden keys, he starts blinking and collects another 10 points. But there's more to it yet. These keys give access to the magic doors. When he manages to reach a door with his key, dodging those boulders of course, he enter the magic halls of his mines and another 20 points are added to his fortune! After a short celebratory dance the treasure hunt continues. Pete has a brand new pickaxe and starts again where he originally began. Every time a different, more difficult patterns appears and the frequency with which the boulders come bursting from those magic doors increases as his score grows higher. While carrying a key, Pete can also collect a new pickaxe, adding 5 more points to his score.

Warning: The mining pattern will have the same colour as the door he just entered. These colours change regularly. Try and avoid a dark grey door! When Pickaxe Pete enters a dark grey door with his key, he will collect his 20 bonus points after which he finds himself in an invisible maze, making it much harder and more hazardous.

When Pickaxe Pete is hit by a boulder while he does not carry a pickaxe, he tumbles and sits down, completely stunned. The game is over and a new one will start automatically.

The highest score in a series of games is shown in the left-hand bottom corner. The name of the high scoring player can be displayed in the centre, where the question marks are. Just key in the name of the high scoring player (maximum of six characters; if fewer, press space until all remaining question marks have disappeared). The name will stay on the screen until the score has been equalled or surpassed.

Scoring Points:

-Evading a boulder 1 point

-Smashing a boulder 3 points

-Getting a new pickaxe 5 points

-Getting a key 10 points

-Getting through door with key 20 points

~From the Pick Axe Pete! Manual

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CHEATS:

The Key to Survival: If you have a Key, and are about to be run down by a boulder, make a jump toward the nearest door. If you reach the door, you'll survive even if the boulder hits you.

Stay on Top: The following technique was used a lot in tournaments. Choose mine #6. While you still have the pick in your hands, go to the highest floor and stay as near as possible to the left wall. Stay there, jumping straight up to avoid boulders, and wait until a key appears. Don't go after a key that is at the other side of the mine door!!! Wait for a key to appear near you. Get the key and carefully go to the door (remember to jump to reach the door!). You should be able to repeat this until you get at least 1000 points, because the left part of the highest floor will remain for a long time. (Submitted by Marcelo Ribeiro)

http://odyssey2.classicgaming.gamespy.com/cheats/index.php#comandonoturno
